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The Realm of the Ancients: I

Archive: 36 posts

The Realm of the Ancients: IZynax555
Welcome to the Realm of the Ancients, a sacred land once inhabited centuries ago. Explore the lush forest and perhaps you'll stumble upon the ruins of the Ancients
I'm fairly satisfied how this level turned out, visually compared to my previous forest level this one is much better. The level did overheat so I had to ease up visually near the end (It's probably not noticeable). Anyway, this level includes a few simple puzzles and some fairly easy platforming (at least for me...) Also there are plenty of hidden point bubbles throughout the level.

Here are some pictures
http://a.imageshack.us/img412/1305/aphoto7.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img405/8542/aphoto8r.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img843/6712/aphoto9.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img831/6502/aphoto10.jpg

Edit: Not doing anymore F4F on this thread.		2010-08-27 19:06:00

Author:
zynax555
Posts: 170

Wow this looks beautiful! I will try to play this today.2010-08-27 19:51:00

Author:
austimerr
Posts: 385

Wow, fantastic.

From the get-go, I got a real need to explore every nook and cranny of your level. It's gorgeous in it's details. Got a bit disappointed that I didn't find many pointbubbles at the start, maybe I didn't search well enough?
Well thought-out puzzles with some of them not being obvious at first glance, nice!
Checkpoints are well placed, and an epic ride at the end. I did spend a couple of lives trying to jump on top of the icy railing before you get the sponge to spawn. (I guess I was eager to ride it )

:star::star::star::star::star: + level and creator <3		2010-08-27 23:23:00

Author:
wbrinkman
Posts: 12

Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad you liked the level. It's overheated right now but I'll try to delete some stuff so I can fit in more hidden point bubbles at the beginning b/c you're right about there being a lack of them at the start of the level.

Edit: I've now republished with a lot more "hidden" points in the beginning area.		2010-08-27 23:36:00

Author:
zynax555
Posts: 170

Things I liked:
+pretty great visual style right from the start.
+I like the style of the water fall, looks unique and awesome
+thats a really awesome stone bridge that you climb up to outside, on the spinny sponge things
+The thing I liked most about the levels were the puzzles, they were pretty cleverly put together.
+It also goves a good feel of being non linear, I saw a whole lot of different paths a could have taken for extra score bubbles or whatever, even I hidden path down to some nice logic gates!! (see suggestions )
+Music was used well, especially at the start

Suggestions:
-make the vines at the start sponge or something, the glass looked a bit rough.
-make the ropes on the swinging vine invisible?
-I just broke the level by mistake. You know where those elevator platforms are moving in either direction and you have to move around the boxs, I accidently rode it up too far, and trying to get out I ended up behind the level and now Im can see a whole lot of your logic. Maybe make it insta-death for going up too far
-Im not sure if it timed, or not, but the bit were you hit the switches and have to climb up the columns to get the crate, I ticking clock or something would add a little bit of excitement perhaps.

Overall, I think a really great level. A lot of really cool aspects and not a lot of things I found that needs fixing.

:star::star::star::star::star:

This should end up in cool levels!!

F4F: The Mystery of Mystery Island (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=33317-The-Mystery-of-Mystery-Island&p=582899#post582899) please 		2010-08-28 01:54:00

Author:
Joburg87
Posts: 56

Ok thanks. I thought the gas covered everything in that area but I guess not, I'll go double check that and yes the ropes are suppose to be visible on the swingy vines. I'll also go check out your level

Edit: There was one little gap in the gas and I guess you happened to go through it. I've patched it up now.		2010-08-28 03:18:00

Author:
zynax555
Posts: 170

Ok thanks. I thought the gas covered everything in that area but I guess not, I'll go double check that and yes the ropes are suppose to be visible on the swingy vines. I'll also go check out your level

Edit: There was one little gap in the gas and I guess you happened to go through it. I've patched it up now.

The visible ropes kind of grew on me after I typed that. haha, one tiny gap in the gas and I end up behind the entire level! Typical! But anyway, ahain, great job, the level must have been a thermo-killer!		2010-08-28 03:27:00

Author:
Joburg87
Posts: 56

+ I like the glass vines.
- After you drop down the first hole, there is a grabbable dolls head (in the back layer) that you can take down to the lower level, skipping some of the level. (you fall down onto the collapsing bridge)
- Why is there fire and gas in the hazards?
+ Cool first puzzle.
+ Liked the second puzzle and that falling ledge.
- Maybe wait a few seconds before you re-emit the white sponge zipline.

I think a little story would help. Pehaps revealing the ancients at the end or something? (It was awesome in Stargate and Jak & Daxter!)

I had fun exploring! Nice level.		2010-08-28 10:56:00

Author:
midnight_heist
Posts: 2513

HEY!! i have played your level and I have liked it very much, the design, the creation, the ways, the puzzles, the adventure is very good level, made bundle incredible things inside this history, i have liked the parts where the logic is a good herramiente, and the zone where you lower gather of a ball of sponge for the c?mino of ice has been very good.
I have given you :star:?s

Suggestion: i?ll change de waterfall i don't liked sorry
F4F: https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=33267-ENCHANTED-ADVENTURE-Chapter-1-THE-MISTERY-OF-THE-CAVE		2010-08-28 15:18:00

Author:
psyntens
Posts: 562

Thank you for finding that grabbable part in the back layer, I would have never thought of that. It's now fixed (good thing it didn't actually take you out of the level). I've also taken your suggestion on giving the zipline more time before the next sponge re-emits. Once again thanks.2010-08-28 15:33:00

Author:
zynax555
Posts: 170

I played your level and here is my feedback

Positives:
+Visuals
+Gameplay
+Platforming
+detail

Negatives:
-ice vines could of been regular vines (Minor problem)

Overall it was very good::star::star::star::star:		2010-08-28 16:56:00

Author:
Sabre_
Posts: 653

Very good level!! Thoroughly enjoyed it all the way through!! :star::star::star::star: <3

Theres only three things that I really picked up on.
1. The water fall at the beginning. It just doesn't look all that good. Theres many waterfall tutorials that you can find that will make it looke 100% better.

2. Make the string on the vines invisible. It detracts from the organic nature of your level.

3. Due to the polystyrene on your boxes, it makes a weird squeeking noise when you move them. I suggest changing the material or finding a way around it.

Since you're doing F4F, I'll give you the name of my level

Mr. Pollock's Dream
By: dr_murk

theres a thread for it buried somewhere in LBPcentral. Just search for it and give some feedback on there if you wouldn't mind. Thank you!

Oh, and one last note, Dimension555 is one of my favorite levels, and this was another great level. Keep up the good work!!		2010-08-28 17:05:00

Author:
dr_murk
Posts: 239

I just put the level link in my signature, so you can just click it down there now :n)2010-08-28 17:20:00

Author:
dr_murk
Posts: 239

Looks really nice Zynax555, i'll have to try it out soon. 2010-08-28 17:22:00

Author:
Joey
Posts: 758

Since nobody has liked the way the glass vines looked I have now changed them to the same green wood that some of the other vines are made of. Also about the strings on the swingy vines they aren't actually holding anything together... I put them there because I liked the way it looked. I still don't think I'm going to change that, but thank you for the feedback; I'll go check out your level now.

Edit: I've now changed the waterfall so it moves faster to give it more of a flowing feel. I think it looks better than it did before but there's probably still room for improvement. Also the very small gaps between the pieces are gone.		2010-08-28 18:55:00

Author:
zynax555
Posts: 170

Well, your level was just a pleasure to play. I had a lot of fun from beginning to end. The whole thing just comes together so nicely.

The visuals are good. The trees had nice strong, organic shapes and were nicely placed between the levels giving lots of winding paths to explore and I definitely liked the waterfall - very distinctive. The buildings were cool too, particularly the pillared section in the top photo in the OP. The puzzles were nicely done and I enjoyed looking for the hidden bubbles (I'd have liked even more of those but that's just greedy). The platforming was not too difficult but never got dull. The section where you have to jump up a shaft with tiny platforms trying to keep a combo going was a lot of fun.

As someone else pointed out, it wasn't entirely clear what the story was and simply because the title said it was "Part 1", I was sort of expecting a bit more of a story. Not a problem, though, and I'm definitely looking forward to Part 2.

Overall it was a very enjoyable level. <3		2010-08-28 20:04:00

Author:
shropshirelass
Posts: 1455

I'm stuck at the room with the pillar and the green cube... any hints?2010-08-28 22:18:00

Author:
saarraz1
Posts: 86

I'm stuck at the room with the pillar and the green cube... any hints?

And by that do you mean the room with the endlessly moving platforms that go up and down, there's a pillar in there? Because last time I checked there are no green cubes in my level.

If that is the case then you have to push the first block onto the elevator, go up the platform, spawn a block, push it across the gap and then use the spawned block to get up to the switch to bring the previous block on the elevator up to be able to continue.		2010-08-29 00:00:00

Author:
zynax555
Posts: 170

And by that do you mean the room with the endlessly moving platforms that go up and down, there's a pillar in there? Because last time I checked there are no green cubes in my level.

If that is the case then you have to push the first block onto the elevator, go up the platform, spawn a block, push it across the gap and then use the spawned block to get up to the switch to bring the previous block on the elevator up to be able to continue.
I mean the room after you see the pile of broken columns...
theres a green cube and a pillar on the left. There's a grabbable thing i can reach on the left but it doesn't do anything.
There seems to be an elevator on the right but it doesn't do nothing.		2010-08-29 00:36:00

Author:
saarraz1
Posts: 86

Oh, I loved Dimension 555, I'll definitely try to play this level tonight or tomorrow and tell you what I think 2010-08-29 00:46:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity
Posts: 5208

Hey man, Gave this a play earlier today.

Overall, the difficulty of the level was just right, and was quite enjoyable.
The Atmosphere was great and your use of materials was pretty good. The puzzles were quite good as well.
Your use of lighting was superb. I would never have found that hole that led back to the top of the ledge if it weren't for that soft, blinking light!

My only criticism that I can think of for this level is probably the lack of stickering and decoration.
A lot of the rooms in the level seemed pretty bland because it was all one color, with out any variation of texture or look so to speak.

Well to give you a better idea of what I mean, I took two pictures of a part of your level.
http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22930
Here we have a nice looking forest area, but it seems kinda bland don't it? Brown and green yeah, but where's the "pizazz"?
http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22931
Ah! There we go! See what some stickers and decorations can do? Makes it look 3x better!

Now, i'm not saying you need to go all out on the stickering and have 50 different ones in one place, but you see my point?

Overall, your level was a nice challenge. Very nice palette of materials, could use some more variation here and there, but very good otherwise.
I gave it a 4/5 and tagged it Tricky. Nicely done! *thumbs up*		2010-08-29 01:14:00

Author:
SupaSack34
Posts: 180

I understand your point about using stickers, but I like to decorate using the physical materials much more. I would've put more detail into that area but I'm completely overheated (using thin layers like I prefer, of course). I'll see what I can do with some more stickers though, because you do have a point.2010-08-29 02:24:00

Author:
zynax555
Posts: 170

Yepyep, using physical materials to decorate is just fine, and the level looks great! I'm just suggesting to add some more flare to them is all :]2010-08-29 04:07:00

Author:
SupaSack34
Posts: 180

I mean the room after you see the pile of broken columns...
theres a green cube and a pillar on the left. There's a grabbable thing i can reach on the left but it doesn't do anything.
There seems to be an elevator on the right but it doesn't do nothing.

hey man can you help me on this?		2010-08-29 06:16:00

Author:
saarraz1
Posts: 86

Just played this level, it looks awesome!

You've really put a good amount of detail into the environment and made great use of lighting. The forest really seems expansive and organic.

I liked the platforming and puzzles. Although they weren't too difficult, you still had to pay attention to the surroundings and use your noggin to figure out how to proceed.

I've recorded a video of the level:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n045uhQS4Zk

Great stuff, gave it :star::star::star::star::star: and a <3. 		2010-08-29 06:38:00

Author:
Gilgamesh
Posts: 2536

hey dude when i played this part there were no platforms going up and down just the green cube WTF?2010-08-29 07:31:00

Author:
saarraz1
Posts: 86

hey dude when i played this part there were no platforms going up and down just the green cube WTF?

Have you tried reseting the level. Maybe something weird happened when it was loading?

Also @ Gilgamesh, thank you for taking a video of my level. I wasn't expecting that at all!

And as a side note has anyone found the silly easter egg that one of my friends put in the level? Let me know if you think you have.		2010-08-29 15:55:00

Author:
zynax555
Posts: 170

Finally managed to make it work properly

Anyways, the level is very well made. The environments are very nice and detailed, and the puzzles were very original.
One thing that bugged me with the environments was that they looked kinda gray-ish, i recommend adding some dirt smears here and there to give the textures different shades throught, it will make the level look better IMO.
The end was fun and overall, i give it a :star::star::star::star::star:

F4F: My level Ancient Treasure of the Aztec (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=34014-Ancient-Treasure-of-the-Aztec-*UPDATED-
PICS*)		2010-08-29 16:26:00

Author:
saarraz1
Posts: 86

Realm of the Ancients I

Positives:
You did a wonderful job with the aesthetics of your level. The platforming was pretty fun. There were a lot of areas where you had to think just a little bit to figure out how to proceed, but nothing that was frustrating. I enjoyed the zip line at the end.

Suggestions:
You can see the seams of the waterfall pieces. It would have really added polish to the waterfall if you had done a little CE on the emitted piece. I also thought you could have changed up the music a little bit. Especially at the ending zipline. A little fast paced music would really change the excitement of the final ride.

I gave the level :star::star::star::star::star:'s.		2010-08-29 19:29:00

Author:
RoharDragontamer
Posts: 397

Excellent level zynax555.

At first, the jungle design doesn't seem to be well decorated with lack of stickers and decorations but as I get to the temple, the visuals picked up quickly. The gameplay is outstanding too and puzzling. Overall, great work on the gameplay. 5 :star:s and a <3.

F4F either The Hero Chronicles LV4, LV5, or LV6. I still need an feedback of LV3 after an feedback of "Dimension 555" too.		2010-08-30 00:08:00

Author:
JustinArt
Posts: 1314

I played it and here's what I thought.

Not too much stickers at all, but I still liked how you used a combination of materials which you also pointed out earlier. It was pretty detailed and great amount of gameplay. On the walk up it didn't feel too long which was great and I loved having to collect the different boxes left behind to help you across. I also liked the transition from the forest to the temple and then back to the forest and I liked how you put out lots of points. Overall, I gave it five stars. Great job! 		2010-08-30 02:10:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity
Posts: 5208

Sorry I didn't post sooner, but congrats on finally finishing that level! Not entirely sure what feedback I could give now when I actually saw the thing a couple of times during the construction. (I helped with some small things such as logic and thermo saving in online create, but mostly only as an assistant of sorts, to those in the dark)

Also, I see nobody has found the strange easter egg I added yet		2010-08-30 22:41:00

Author:
Rhombohedron
Posts: 25

Also, I see nobody has found the strange easter egg I added yet

Lol! If by Easter egg you mean the cow sticker on a block of wood, I found it a couple of days ago. I uploaded a picture to the level but it may have been bumped off by newer pictures by now! I lol'd when I found it, though, it made me jump too, as it shoots out at you and then disappears. I was looking for hidden bubbles and definitely wasn't expecting anything like that. Beats the usual hidden sticker for heart attack value that's for sure! Kudos! 		2010-08-31 20:35:00

Author:
shropshirelass
Posts: 1455

Then my work here is done.2010-08-31 22:06:00

Author:
Rhombohedron
Posts: 25

WOOT! Congrats on the well-deserved spotlight! That's 2 in a row now I believe.2010-09-08 05:19:00

Author:
Rhombohedron
Posts: 25

Hi, I'll write this as I play

+ nice intro visually
+ nice puzzle when the bridge falls
- sometimes you have to walk for tooo long
+ nice chages in the level when you press switches, and you have to go back
- the stones are too plain, you could add more decoration
+ nice platforms
- the music too slow, it makes somehow the level too slow and almost boring
- in the sponge jumper, you should change the direction of the switch, so that it pushes you when you stop grabbing
- the branches of the three could be improved (some vegetaion, corner editing,...)
- love the end , but music does not fit at all in that part. You need something faster

If you have time, it would be cool if you could give me some feedback in my level "The tanks factory 2"		2010-09-11 15:44:00

Author:
onturenio
Posts: 138


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